Forward Deployed Engineer

About us

Zetaris is the world's leading data harness for AI - the open, vendor-agnostic layer that harnesses an organization's data engines and AI models so every agent, analyst, and application can build on enterprise data instantly. Zetaris lets teams query, govern, and activate their data in place, across every source and system they own, without data movement, ETL pipelines, or proprietary lock-in. By harnessing underlying engines such as Spark, Presto, and Trino, Zetaris delivers governed, real-time access to data wherever it lives - with full sovereignty over security, cost, and compliance. As enterprises face mounting pressure to deliver AI ROI on fragmented, distributed data estates, Zetaris provides the open data infrastructure that turns that ambition into measurable outcomes.

Role Overview

Role Purpose: Help customers and partners turn Zetaris into working solutions - from use case and architecture through proof of value, deployment, and adoption.

The Zetaris Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) is a senior, hands-on data engineer and solution architect who works embedded with customer and partner engineering teams. The FDE designs and builds solutions on the Zetaris platform, resolves integration challenges in complex enterprise environments, and transfers the knowledge customers and partners need to deploy Zetaris themselves.
This is a builder's role, not simply a technical presales role. It requires deep enterprise data architecture expertise, hands-on skills across SQL, data integration, and cloud and hybrid infrastructure, and the ability to communicate credibly with both executives and engineers.

Role Type: Hands-on, customer- and partner-facing technical leadership

Primary Focus: Solution engineering, use case delivery, customer and partner enablement, and adoption

Operating Model: Senior data engineer and solution architect, working alongside Sales, Professional Services, and Engineering team
Travel: As required for customer and partner engagements

Basic Zetaris platform knowledge: Basic knowledge of the Zetaris platform is important for this role. As part of your application, please register and navigate the platform at https://www.zetaris.com/cloud. No deep product knowledge is required - we're interested in seeing how you navigate and apply the platform based on your understanding.

Responsibilities

Use Case Development & Discovery

Lead business and technical discovery sessions with customers and partners.
Translate business requirements into practical technical solutions, success criteria, and measurable outcomes.
Assess feasibility, risks, and dependencies, and define the right technical approach for each use case.
Build trusted relationships across executive, business, technical, and delivery stakeholders.

Solution Architecture & Hands-on Engineering

Design scalable, secure, and governed solutions using the Zetaris platform across cloud, private cloud, and hybrid environments.
Define data federation, integration, access, security, governance, and AI/LLM integration approaches.
Build hands-on: write SQL, configure connectors, integrate data sources and AI/LLM workflows, and troubleshoot performance and integration issues in customer environments.
Explain architecture choices, constraints, dependencies, and data paths with clarity.

Proofs of Concept, Pilots & Proof of Value

Develop and deliver platform demonstrations tied to customer priorities.
Build and lead bounded POCs, pilots, and Proof of Value engagements against agreed KPIs and acceptance criteria.
Present the technical and business value of the solution, resolve ambiguity, and validate solution fit.

Embedded Technical Enablement

Work directly with customer and partner engineering teams to design architectures, resolve integration challenges, and accelerate technical adoption.
Transfer knowledge through hands-on pairing, workshops, documentation, and reusable assets.
Feed field insight and product gaps back to Zetaris Product and Engineering.

Partner Technical Capability

Enable partner architects and delivery teams to understand, position, integrate, and deploy Zetaris.
Develop reference architectures, implementation playbooks, and training content for partners.
Build partner self-sufficiency, reducing their dependence on our core engineering team.

Delivery Transition & Customer Success

Transfer solution context, architecture decisions, proof evidence, and customer commitments into delivery.
Maintain continuity from solution design through deployment, activation, and adoption.
Provide technical input to Sales on opportunity qualification, value cases, and proposals.
Identify value-expansion opportunities based on demonstrated customer outcomes.

Attributes

Senior data engineer, solution architect, or field engineer with substantial hands-on enterprise implementation experience.
Deep expertise in enterprise data architecture, data integration, federation and virtualization, governance, security, and cloud and hybrid infrastructure.
Strong hands-on SQL skills and experience with distributed query engines such as Spark, Presto, or Trino.
Experience integrating AI and LLM capabilities with enterprise data, for example retrieval-augmented generation, AI agents, or text-to-SQL.
Proven ability to work embedded in complex customer environments and resolve integration and performance challenges.
Experience enabling customer or partner engineering teams through knowledge transfer, workshops, and documentation.
Demonstrated ability to translate business problems into practical technical solutions and measurable outcomes.
Ability to communicate effectively with C-level leaders, architects, engineers, security teams, and delivery stakeholders.
A builder and problem-solver who enjoys hands-on delivery, not simply a technical presales resource.

Preferred Qualifications

Background at Databricks, Snowflake, a cloud or data specialist, or a systems integrator in a field engineering, solution architecture, or delivery role.
Experience enabling systems integrators or technology partners to deploy a data platform.
Experience with modern cloud, private cloud, and hybrid enterprise data platforms.
Experience designing and running POCs, pilots, or Proof of Value engagements.
Commercial awareness and familiarity with customer adoption practices.

Success Profile

Technical Depth: Designs, builds, and explains viable Zetaris solutions, including architecture, data paths, security, and constraints.
Builder Mindset: Gets hands-on to solve integration and deployment problems in customer environments.
Use Case Value: Turns business requirements into working solutions with measurable outcomes.
Value Proof: Builds focused POCs and pilots and leads disciplined proof engagements.
Enablement: Leaves customer and partner teams able to deploy and run Zetaris without relying on our core engineering team.
Customer & Partner Leadership: Orchestrates stakeholders from discovery through adoption and is accountable for outcomes.

What Strong Performance Looks Like

Customer conversations begin with outcomes and evidence, not product features alone.
Solution designs are technically credible, built hands-on, and clearly communicated.
POCs, pilots, and Proofs of Value remain bounded, measurable, and decision oriented.
Partner teams deliver Zetaris implementations with decreasing support from our core engineering team.
Delivery teams receive complete context, artifacts, assumptions, and acceptance criteria.
Customers realize value and recognize additional opportunities to expand their use of Zetaris.

Behavioural & Soft Skills

Collaborates effectively within Agile, cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.
Demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a practical approach to challenges.
Takes ownership of tasks, works independently, and consistently delivers high-quality outcomes.
Communicates complex ideas clearly and confidently with both technical and non-technical audiences.
Shows curiosity and a commitment to continuous learning, exploring new technologies and best practices.
Balances innovation with pragmatic execution to deliver reliable, scalable solutions.
Acts with integrity, professionalism, and accountability in all interactions and decisions.
Contributes to a supportive, knowledge-sharing, and growth-oriented team culture.
Maintains a proactive, positive, and results-focused mindset, even under pressure.

Why you will love working with Zetaris

Be one of Zetaris's first sales leaders in North America, at the forefront of an international expansion backed by a global co-investment partnership.
Sell a differentiated, open platform into a fast-growing market as enterprises race to deliver AI on their data.
Shape the go-to-market strategy and commercial direction of a growing software company.
Work in a collaborative, agile environment where your ideas directly influence success.
Competitive base salary and commission plan, with performance incentives and potential for equity participation.